Thailand tightens up on device advertising:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Thailand's Food and Drug Administration is to clamp down on exaggerated advertising claims for high-tech medical devices, reports the Bangkok Post. FDA deputy-secretary Dr Banphot Tanthiravong believes the legislation controlling the sale of medical devices must be altered to close the loophole allowing some devices to be advertised directly to the public. A Thai company was recently reprimanded by the FDA for claiming socks, underwear, vests, gloves and scarves made from a polyurethane polymer emitting far-infrared radiation could cure cancer, diabetes and AIDS. The Thai FDA has also been advised "not to trust" quality assurance certification for medical products manufactured in Italy and Japan on the grounds of "unreliability", Dr Banphot says.